Tattoo cracking is very common problem with new tattoos and sometimes within older tattoos also.
Tattoo cracking can have a different look from person to person, but normally begins with dehydrated skin. It is something that you can avoid from the start, but if this is happening to you now it also can be fixed up easily.
Within this article we are going to speak about tattoo cracking, the 8 different ways it can look on your skin, and the best way to treat and look after the area. Thanks for reading.
What Is Tattoo Cracking?
Tattoo cracking is a comparatively common manifestation that can happen to anyone who has had a new tattoo.
Technically, when you get a new tattoo, it is not the tattoo that will crack but the scab that forms on its surface. As your tattoo begins to heal, it starts oozing blood plasma and some ink used for a couple of days.
Cracking your new tattoo may occur when you don’t take good aftercare. Therefore, when the skin around the inked area becomes too dry when your tattoo begins to heal, it will crack.
Tattoo cracking can happen for different reasons, but you don’t have to worry when you see the scab on the surface cracking. Here are some of the reasons causing breaking to be on the lookout for:
(I)When extensive, thick scabs form on your tattoo: Normally, some people are always lucky when they get new tattoos not to experience scabbing on their tattoo surface. However, a large majority will share light scabbing on their new tattoos, which is not a cause to panic as it is pretty standard when tattoos begin to heal.
Supposing your new tattoo will start to form heavy scabbing, that will become a different story altogether. But still don’t have to worry a lot as it won’t be the end of the world as you can manage this issue with proper aftercare.
When you have thick scabs, they will dry out faster than light scabs. The wider the scabs form on your tattoo, the chances of them ripping or pulling out becomes easy. Therefore, it increases the circumstances of the scab to split and crack.
(II)When you have dehydrated skin: Your new tattoo will heal faster and look good when you maintain proper skin moisturization during your tattoo healing process.
However, when you know you have naturally dry skin, it would be best to step up and keep your moisturizing game to avoid complications such as split, crack and break when thick scabs begin to form.
Fortunately, to avoid experiencing tattoo cracks caused by dry skin. There are plenty of tattoo creams, lotions, and ointments that you can ask your tattoo artist or medical doctor to recommend for you that will keep your skin smooth throughout the healing process.
(III)When your tattoo is infected: Another reason that may cause your tattoo to crack is when it is infected.
There are high chances of your tattoo getting an infection when you fail to observe proper hygiene measures during the healing process, which will allow germs and bacteria to find their ways and infiltrate your new tattoo.
Please observe proper hygiene during the weeping stages because your new tattoo is still an open wound.
Severe infection may lead to itching, pus, fever, foul odours, and raise your body temperature. When you notice any of these symptoms, get help before too late to avoid further damages and health issues complications.
(IV)When you clean your dry tattoo using warm water: Never clean your dry tattoo with warm water, it is a major no-no.
When you wash your drying tattoo with warm water, you will be taking away the moisture available on the skin area. Therefore, your tattoo will become dry and begin to crack, especially if you don’t apply ointment or lotion to the tattooed area later on.
What Are The Most Common Issues With Tattoo Cracking, And What Do They Look Like?
During the healing process of a tattoo, when something gets wrong, multiple symptoms will occur that you need to be on the lookout to ensure that your tattoo has a smooth healing process. Look out for the below issues:
(a) Cracking And Bleeding:
Your new tattoo may begin to scab three days after the procedure. A thick scab will cause cracks when you don’t observe proper suitable aftercare measures.
When your new tattoo is not getting the best hydration care, it will begin to split and bleed. This will lead to cracking and may end up causing bigger and dipper scab formation.
Cracking and bleeding from heavy scabs and thick prominent crusts. When deep scabs form, they will extend your healing time because the scabs will lose a lot of moisture, become dry, begin to split, always bleed and break apart.
Therefore, your tattoo will be prone to experiencing pulling or getting ripped off before healing correctly.
(b) Cracking And Itching:
Usually, the healing process of a tattoo may cause some itching experience. Swelling, redness and other symptoms as your skin begins to repair itself around the pierced areas.
In most cases, when you experience minor itching, they will disappear with time. However, when the itching becomes persistent, it would be best to visit a doctor for observation to find the root cause.
(c) Cracking And Peeling:
When your new tattoo begins to scab over as it heals, the area surrounding it will become scaly, very itchy, and extremely dry.
When your unique tattoo experiences light scabbing, it will be hardly visible. However, when the scabbing become heavy, it will form thick prominent crusts on the surface, causing your tattoo to crack.
Tattoo peeling is not a cause of alarm. It indicates that your body is trying to eliminate the dry skin cells around the inked area affected, and your skin is beginning to heal.
However, excessive peeling and cracking could cause alarm and may cause inflammation or infection, which will require urgent medical attention.
(d) Cracked And Raised:
When the skin area on your tattoo becomes dry, it will begin to crack.
When your tattoo dries out, in most cases, it will produce thick scabs which may become susceptible to breaking, when your tattoo scab may lead to infections, possible fading or scarring, and bleeding.
(e) Cracking And Yellow Colour:
When your new tattoos experience an above-normal level of the discharge as it heals, the scabs that form on the surface will look thick and bulbous and form a yellow and green crust.
Usually, blood and scab appear on your tattoo surfaces that dry up and fall off, causing a yellow appearance. You don’t have to worry, it’s normal.
(f) Cracking With No Ink Underneath:
Your new tattoo peeling off is an everyday occurrence during the healing process. Every inked area on your skin will become an open wound that your body will react to and give protection until it heals.
In most cases, the ink that you will see flaking off is the ink that remains in the skin epidermis when your tattoo artist is punching the needle into the lower layer of the skin or the dermis.
Please note that you will lose the epidermis skin cells daily, so you don’t have to worry.
(g) Cracking Under Saniderm:
During the scabbing phase of your new tattoo, it may look like it is cracking away, which is an everyday occurrence because healing will take place on the lighter parts of the inked area, and the darker areas will be releasing the old skin remnants away from the tattoo.
Additionally, your body will be pushing the excess ink applied on the tattooed area and plasma to the tattoo surface.
As a result, this occurrence will prevent the adhesive from attaching to the freshly tattooed parts. Therefore, you don’t have to worry when you observe such circumstances on your new tattoo, as Saniderm may not damage or extract ink from your tattoo.
(h) Cracking And Oozing:
When your new tattoo experience very lightly scabbing, it will hardly be visible. However, when the scabbing becomes heavy, you will likely experience profound moisture loss in your tattooed area.
As a result, it will cause your tattoo to become dry and begin to split. Your tattoo will also break apart, leading to occasional bleeding whenever something scratches the tattoo surface.
Can You Fix A Cracked Tattoo?
Yes, you can fix a cracked tattoo. The damage is primarily superficial and may only look bad on the faces because it only affects the scab area. Therefore, when the scabbing eventually falls off, it will replace the entire skin area with a new one, and your tattoo will become okay again.
How Do You Treat A Cracked Tattoo?
Tattoo cracking is a regular occurrence for anyone who has a new tattoo. It mainly occurs when scabbing begins and your skin becomes too dry during the healing process.
You can take some precautions to prevent further damages from happening with the following measures:
(I)Clean your new tattoo regularly: Scabbing is normal when tattoos begin to heal. When it occurs, you may not eliminate them, but you can minimize them. The best way to minimize scabbing is by cleaning the blood spots, plasma, and ink that oozes from your tattoo during the first few days.
When you notice ink, blood, and plasma coming out from your new tattoo, please do not allow them to collect on the tattoo surface.
The best way to remove them is by ensuring that you wash the surface with warm and gentle water with an antibacterial soap.
(II)Often apply a thin layer of curative ointment: Every time you have washed your tattoo, ensure that you keep it air dry or dry it using a kitchen roll. After, apply a thin layer of curative ointment on its surface.
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(III)Moisturize the correct way: Proper moisturization is crucial to ensuring that your tattoo heals speedily. However, you need to apply only a thin layer on the surface for that to happen. If you slather a thick layer of lotion, it will suffocate the skin area pores and make your tattoo mushy.
Moreover, when you have thick scabs, please wait for the scabs to dry up entirely and then apply a thin layer of lotion on them.
Supposing you lather it up when the scabs are wet, you will end up having a tattoo bubbling. Additionally, it would be best to apply the entire area surrounding the tattoo with lotion to get more comprehensive moisturization.
(IV)Please avoid touching or picking the scabs forming: Your new tattoo might have cost you a dime, and you may have all the right to show it off.
But please avoid the temptation of picking or touching the scabs or peeling skin before your tattoo heals. Doing so can cause tattoo cracking and, to some extent, ink loss.
Let the healing process happen naturally without any disturbance, the skin will fall off, and the tattoo will remain smooth and precise.
Don’t let anyone touch your tattoo when it’s healing, irrespective of their intention, except your tattoo artist when you take it for a checkup.
(V)Drink a lot of water and eat a healthy, balanced diet: Taking a healthy diet can work miracles on your skin. When your tattoo is healing, kindly avoid taking junk food any time of food that may cause harm to your skin.
Instead, consume food rich in vitamins and antioxidants such as broccoli, green leafy vegetable, avocados, tomatoes, vegetables, sweet potatoes, fatty fish, and any other advised by a doctor. Also, ensure that you drink lots of water daily.
Keep a closer observation during the tattoo healing process and observe any reason that may cause your tattoo to crack. It will help you retrace your steps and find why you experience cracks on the surface.
(VI)Avoid showing with hot water: Showering with hot way may be your thing. But when you get a new tattoo, it would be helpful to keep away from hot or warm water if you want your tattoo to heal smoothly and speedily.
A hot or warm shower can dehydrate your tattoo skin area, and you will end up stripping your skin of its natural oils. As a result, your tattoo will begin to crack and look pretty bad.
To prevent tattoo cracking, ensure that you shower with lukewarm water. After a shower, dry your tattoo correctly and apply a moisturizer to keep your tattoo hydrated and nourished. Your skin will glow, and the tattoo will look new.